The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-12-29

elder sister; "Sally, don't tread on my
toes Il amt Captain Bradstreet, " there was
louder laughter and some confusion.
Job Harkins waited on the table, and
when the company retired to the parlor he
sat down with the domestic and the two
men who labored in the Deacon's fields, and
ate, as he had been promised, his best
| Christmas dinner since 1854. At nine o'clock,
when the village guests had departed, Job
was summoned to the parlor. He came
slowly and d%ifddently.
"Harkins,' - said the Deacon, ''you've re-
deemed yourself and surprised US. How
was it,"
Job looked d%oubtfully at Clarice, who
laughed mischievously.
HE wants me to explain, father.
II contrived a little plot when l found that
the great turkey was safe. Job brought it
here just after you all went to meeting. I
stuffed and roasted it myself, telling the
girl to say nothing about it. Then I made
Job stay up in the mems room till dinner
was ready, and he had his instructions, as
you have SEEM" .
SIT was a deception, Clarice,' said the
Deacon. % ....
ut was wen done, anyway" said Captain
Bradstreet.
"You've been saying that I couldn't
cook" said Clarice, stoutly, to her mother
and sister. "What do you think nowf" 3
''She's awful CLEVER" put in young Solo
mon. F.. ,s,,aS
sBut I don't understand how the turkey
am back" said the Deacon. =
sSir,'' spoke up Job, with q shaking voice,
tsyour deserved reproaches last night
seemed to sober me all at once. In two
minutes I resolved that I'd have that turkey
back, or somebody would be hurt. I took
the Ratchet and started. Knowing where
those fellows would be locked up together,
I went and knocked at the door. They
wouldn't let me in. I burst it in, and there
they were; two dozen of them round the
table throwing dice, with the turkey in the
middle of it. They didn't seem to like my
looks, or the look of the Ratchet. They all
fell back as I walked in. r
TIL take that turkey I said. IT any
mar gets in my way, I'll split his head
sNobody offered to stop me-. Right or
wrong, I had it in me to do as / said"
81 believe you would have done it,
Job Harkins,'' said Captain Bradstreet
THERE'S an old soldier sound in your talk;
it's just like you. Don't you know mea',
and the Captain offered his hand.
ITO be sure I did, sir, as soon as / saw
you. 81 DuG III WASH y 1OE ulC " 6pCdA W yOusi
I'm not the man I was, Captain"
"We'n find the man in you, Job,'' was the
hearty reply. sThere wa one there adozen
years q and / believe he's there yet
"Why, whore did you know Jobf' Sally
asked.
ssHe was in my company. A better
soldier was not In the war.p
1.-THE man in him. was found. The
Captain and Miss Sally were married the
next week, and when they went to their
distant Western home,Job went with them.
None knew him better than his former Of
fcer, and he insisted that new scenes and
faces and the breaking-up Of old associa-
tions, were things that were absolutely
needful to save him. He was right. The
eleventh Christmaa ID approaching that
Job Harkins win enjoy since the q de-
scribed. He will pass this n ~ Captain
Bradstreet's,w with his wife and babe. Sally's
boys will clanor, as usual, to hear some Of
his war-stories, which they insist are bet
ter than their: father q. But he will not re
late to them the facts 81 thelife; death and
strange ~ ,t-n.ortsm experience Of JoB's
TURxHY. JAaGsss TRAMKLIN FtTvA.
EN&F4& aMNE GIEG&4 8@R